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Joe Gibbs Racing's driver developement program is most well known for it's introduction of Joey Logano, who is sure to become one of Nascar's future stars.

However, the other developement driver, Marc Davis, is doing more for the sport than just racing on Sunday.

For most of Nascar's 60 year history, it has lacked an African American racer in it's field of drivers. And when it has, those drivers have often found little success, with only Wendell Scott, the first African American to start in a Nascar race, earning a victory in Nascar's top series. Most recently Bill Lester raced in the Cup series in 2006, with at 32nd and a 38th in two races run.

However, Davis could open the door for more African Americans to enter Nascar.

Davis, who is currently 17 and turns 18 on June 23rd, has enjoyed lots of success in other forms of racing. At age 13, he became the first driver to win two national legends championships in the Dirt and Road Course Young Lion divisions, and went on to win six of twelve limited late model races for Joe Gibbs Racing at the Hickory Motor Speedway in 2006.

This success has gotten the graduate of Nascar's Drive for Diversity program compared to Jeff Gordon and called the "real deal" by Nascar veteran Mark Martin.

For Nascar, Davis means the possible addition of more African American fans, but Davis wants to be judged by his ability to compete, not by his ability to bring new faces into the grandstands.

"I'm grateful for the opportunity, but it does get to a point where I just want to be known as the development driver for Joe Gibbs, and if I can open the door for more minorities to race then great, but I have to make it first," Davis said.

Last year Davis raced in the Camping World East, along with teammate Logano, with a best finish of 2nd to Logano and seven top-10's in 13 races, while also making his first ARCA-Remax Series, finishing 4th. Davis is racing in the East series again this year, and is scheduled to race in four more ARCA races.

“I learned a lot running Late Models at Hickory, but it was still a big transition going to the bigger and faster cars of Camping World East,” said Davis. “I’m looking forward to another year in this division, because I feel like I know so much more than I did last year. Everything I’ve done in life has been about racing, and to have an opportunity like this means everything. No one has higher expectations than me."